The Producer

Underwood is co-producing her next project with writer and producer David Garcia, whom she met in 2017.

"We hit it off in a big way," Underwood says. "I’ve always been lucky to have a voice in the writing and recording process, but this is the first time I am this involved in the production of my music. It’s been challenging and incredibly rewarding to be involved in every aspect from start to finish. David has been an amazing teacher and partner, and I’m so proud of what we have created."

The Album Cover

The Single

Underwood released the first single from her upcoming album, "Cry Pretty," on April 11, and debuted the song at the 2018 ACM Awards on April 15 in Las Vegas. As her new record's title track, the singer says, "sets the tone for the rest of the album because it's emotional, and it is real, but there's also just some incredible musical moments in the song, and I feel like those things are themes that go throughout the rest of the album."

"The title refers to when emotions take over and you just can’t hold them back," Underwood explains in an open letter to her fans. "It really speaks to a lot of things that have happened in the past year, and I hope when you hear it, you can relate those feelings to those times in your life. It’s emotional. It’s real. And it ROCKS!"

The Songs

"At this point in my career, I feel stronger and more creative than ever. I think you can hear that in this new album," Underwood says in a press release. "It’s emotional, it’s soulful, it’s real, and we also have some fun on there too. I hope everyone loves it as much as I have loved making it.”

Underwood shares that the songs on Cry Pretty is "emotional, and kind of soulful and real and raw."

"There's so much love and care and heart that has gone into writing these songs, putting music to these songs," she adds, "and everything has been done in such a careful and loving way."

Underwood saysCry Pretty, while emotional, won't include her usual level of story-song drama (read: no character deaths, a la "Two Black Cadillacs," "Church Bells," etc.). "It's a little more real life," she adds, "and, I feel like, just me and where I am in my life."

"Having a kid, and just kind of going through this crazy life that we go through -- I've grown up a lot," Underwoods notes, "and I feel like 'the drama' is more real-life."

Underwood also says that her personal life, and in particular her husband and her son, Isaiah, have influenced her songwriting: "It's impossible for them not to," she admits. "When you go into writing, you're drawing off of personal experiences and you're talking about people that you know, or friends that are dealing with things. Your life influences your music for sure."

Underwood shared Cry Pretty's track listing via a social media video on Aug. 20. The album leads off with its title track and first single, which Underwood released in April. Other song titles include "Ghosts on the Stereo," "That Song That We Used to Make Love To" and "Love Wins."

Although Underwood has previously said that Cry Pretty will not include any collaborations, her song with Ludacris, "The Champion," is on the album as a bonus track. The song, co-written by Underwood, Ludacris, Brett James and Chris DeStefano, was used by NBC as part of their Super Bowl LII and Winter Olympics coverage earlier this year.

Track Nos. 1-12 produced by David Garcia and Carrie Underwood; Track No. 13 produced by Jim Jonsin

The Tour

On Aug. 8, Underwood announced her 2019 Cry Pretty Tour 360. The trek will begin on May 1, in Greensboro, N.C., and a plethora of dates are scheduled through Oct. 31, when the trek is scheduled to conclude in Detroit, Mich. Maddie & Tae and Runaway June will be on the road with Underwood in 2019.